Book Description

In early 2017, Tonia Evans Cianciulli, a professionally trained opera singer born in St. John's, Newfoundland, began planning a concert tour in Newfoundland to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada. 1867 was also the birth year of Georgina Stirling, Newfoundland's first prima donna soprano. Tonia noted that her personal repertoire of songs and arias almost perfectly matched that of Georgina Stirling. Thus, the Nightingale tour was launched. When Tonia shared this with her grandfather, Calvin D. Evans, a Newfoundland author, the idea of a new book on Georgina Stirling began to take shape, Tonia writing from the unique perspective of a performing artist, and Calvin providing the historical background and framework. Much new material has become available on Georgina's vocal and instrumental training in Toronto and then in Italy, France, and England, and relating to Georgina's life, her family, and to her international travels. This book provides an understanding of Georgina's accomplishments and the honour she brought to her island home, winning the hearts of audiences throughout Europe and the United States as well as through her charitable concerts in St. John's and her hometown of Twillingate. Georgina Stirling's opera career was cut short, though whether it was due to a strained voice or some kind of catastrophic emotional trauma remains a mystery. In her final years at Twillingate (1929-1935), Georgina attempted to "redeem the time" by giving back to her beloved community in song, in coaching of singing and dramatic stage productions, in many acts of service to the poor and needy, and in her profuse garden, from which she provided bouquets of roses and other flowers to the sick. Georgina's operatic triumphs and her astonishing and beautiful voice were lauded and acclaimed in concert halls and newspapers throughout Europe and the United States. She acknowledged her inspiration from the glorious sea that surrounded her island, to Newfoundland in general, and to Twillingate in particular.